SCRIPTURE: 2 Kings 2
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me, what can I do for you before I am taken from you?” “Let me inherit a double portion of your spirit,” Elisha replied. “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah said, “yet if you see me when I am taken from you, it will be yours – otherwise not.” [2 Kings 2:9-10]
Under Elijah’s watch, there were some significant miracles: rain held back, fire from heaven (2x), food multiplied, the dead raised; and the grand finale, his fiery departure.
Elijah is the greatest old testament prophet, or the second greatest; John the Baptist is the greatest, and he is like Elijah [Matthew 11:10-14].
Elisha follows Elijah – with a double portion of the Spirit.
The miracle of parting the Jordan, and purifying the bad water, and the judgment of those who mocked him – all point to his receiving the Spirit.
I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” [Luke 7:28]
Jesus suggests that those who surrender to Him (i.e. the kingdom) will be greater than John – you might say, a double portion of the Spirit.
Jesus even says that we will do greater things than Him!
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. [John 14:12]
Why, because He continues His work from above, through us!
His Spirit expands and multiplies what He began while on earth.
Not greater in worth, but greater in impact, and all because of His Spirit.
Do we believe that we have received the Spirit of Jesus?
Are we open to His life-changing, healing and world-impacting power working through us?
We are like Elisha, we follow the greatest prophet!
We have receive the full measure of His Spirit, empowering us to be His word and deed witnesses.
And if we are open, and willing, He will do greater things than we ask or imagine, for the sake of His kingdom.
How little we realize, how little we appreciate, how great the Spirit of Jesus is within us, how greatly He can work through us.
PRAYER:
Lord, today I am praying for a new experience of Your Spirit. Empower and employ me to do great things for You!
Elijah dis the Lord’s work til the very end. So we too need to be busy in the working of His kingdom. And as the Lord’s presence had not departed shown by Elijah’s mantle, so we too have His presence by the gift of His Spirit. We must not look in empty places for His presence as the 50 prophets did, but search His word to be our guide in all we do and say We need to be Jesus’ followers and He has shown the Way. I need to walk in it today, and tomorrow and all my tomorrows serving Him. He has equipped me to do His will. Trust and obey – I must go forward living for Jesus.
Today, God Is First. Help me Lord to live that each day.
1. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me bring you love;
Where there is injury, your healing pow’r,
And where there’s doubt, true faith in you.
2. Make me a channel of your peace:
Where there’s despair in life let me bring hope;
Where there is darkness, – only light,
And where there’s sadness, ever joy.
3. O Spirit, grant that I may never seek
So much to be consolded as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love with all my soul – .
4. Make me a channel of your peace.
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all that we receive,
And in dying that we’re born to eternal life.